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Chris Foster

We’ve seen some of the incredible work by the Roentgen family, but the following invention just might take the cake. In 1784, David Roentgen created a beautiful Automaton for Queen Marie Antoinette that you’ve got to see to believe. It plays eight different melodies on a dulcimer (one of which you’ll hear in the demonstration below), by striking the corresponding strings with one of the hammers it holds in each hand. What is so breath taking about this piece is not just the splendid song by the tiny details on the figure that we imagine have taken months to craft and perfect. It’s astounding the work that must have gone into making this wonderful little machine.

The Automaton is currently on display at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and is really quite amazing. Have a look at the video below to see this gorgeous piece in action.